StarTalk Radio The Elements of Marie Curie with Dava Sobel
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Jan 14, 2025 
Dava Sobel, a renowned science writer and author of "Longitude," joins the discussion to delve into the remarkable legacy of Marie Curie. They explore Curie’s groundbreaking discoveries in radioactivity that transformed scientific understanding. Sobel discusses the historical gender biases Curie navigated and her role as a trailblazer for women in science. The conversation highlights Curie's significant advancements, the ethical challenges in early cancer treatments, and her lasting impact on future generations, including her daughters.
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Dava Sobel's Early Career
- Dava Sobel started as a journalist in upstate New York, working for the Binghamton Evening and Sunday Press.
- She briefly worked as a technical writer for IBM, unknowingly starting her science writing career.
Longitude's Success
- Dava Sobel's book Longitude tells the story of John Harrison, inventor of the seaworthy chronometer.
- Despite the seemingly niche topic, the book became a runaway mega bestseller.
Inspiration for Marie Curie Book
- Dava Sobel's interest in Marie Curie stemmed from a realization of her own implicit bias against women scientists.
- This realization came while writing The Glass Universe, a book about women astronomers at Harvard.
